The U.S. economy is slowly improving from the recession of 2008-2009. Industries like construction are doing well, but unemployment remains stubbornly high throughout the United States. California is a bright spot, growing at a rate above the national average, but as in other states, the recovery is uneven.

美国经济正在从2008-2009年衰退中缓慢复苏。建筑业等行业的情况不错，但全国的失业率仍居高不下。加州是一个亮点，经济增长率超过全国平均水平，但和其他州一样，州内各行业的复苏情况不尽相同。

Realtor Rosalie Andersen adjusts the "for sale" sign in front of a white stucco home in a quiet neighborhood near Los Angeles. She hopes the house will sell for more than a million dollars, and says the real estate market is on an upswing.

房地产经纪人罗莎莉·安德森希望能以超过100万美元的价格卖出这所房屋。她说，房地产市场正在上扬：

“It's kind of puzzling. We talk in the office, and we're just wondering, where are these people getting all this cash from? But I think what a lot of people are doing is that they're finally realizing that your best investment for money is a home," said Andersen.

“这有点令人费解。我们在办公室里议论说，这些人哪儿来的那么多现金？不过我想很多人终于意识到，最好的投资就是一个家。”

California grew last year at 3.5 percent, a full percentage point above the national average.

加州经济去年增长百分之3.5，比全国平均增速整整高出一个百分点。

But the reality on the ground varies from place to place.

但州里各地情况不一。

The ports, one of the drivers of the local economy, are busier, says economist Robert Kleinhenz of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.

洛杉矶县经济发展公司的经济学家罗伯特·克莱因亨茨说，港口的经济活动更繁忙些：

“We're still well below the pre-recession peak levels of port activity that we had seen in 2007," he said. "We've seen some slight gains with each passing year, but there still is quite a ways to go."

“目前各港口活动比2007年衰退前最高水平还差很多。每年都有一点进展，但还有很长的路要走。”

In downtown Los Angeles, the Chinese immigrant owner of a small business that sells T-shirts and slippers says he is doing well. Nearby, Henry Wong sells low-cost decorations and fabrics imported China. When sales are slow, he works with fewer employees.

不过，这家批发T恤衫和拖鞋的小公司生意倒很红火。旁边的亨利·黄卖的是从中国进口的廉价装饰品和布料。生意不好时，他雇的人也少：

“It's easier for me because the overhead is low. And I work by myself too. Sometimes, in the case that the economy is no good, we work more," said Wong.

“经营成本小，所以还行。我自己也干。经济不好时，我们就多干点儿。”

Today, he's doing well. A half dozen employees are busy in his retail store, and more are at work in his warehouse.

他说，现在的生意不错。

High-tech companies are helping to drive the U.S. recovery, but even in Silicon Valley, California's high-tech center, the picture is mixed. Cisco, despite good sales, is cutting 4,000 jobs to adapt to a changing market.

高科技公司推动着美国的经济复苏。不过，即使在加州高科技中心硅谷，情况也有好有坏。比如思科公司，虽然销售强劲，但仍宣布将裁减4千员工，以适应不断变化的市常

The leisure and hospitality sector is hiring, and banking and professional services are also doing well. California's $44 billion farming industry helps feed the nation and is growing. The state's unemployment rate is 8.7 percent, down from over 12 percent three years ago. The jobless rate across the United States is 7.4 percent, and those numbers are also improving.

休闲和旅店业在招募员工，专业服务领域形势也很好。加州440亿美元的农业为全国提供大量农副产品，而且在不断增长。加州的失业率从三年前的百分之12以上降至目前的百分之8.7，美国全国失业率为百分之7.4，都在不断改善。

They are still not where they should be, says economist Robert Kleinhenz.

但经济学家罗伯特·克莱因亨茨说，情况应该更好：

“The unemployment rate has been coming down. GDP has been growing. The problem is, they continue to tell us that the economy is growing at a slower pace than we would really like to see," he said.

“失业率正在下降，GDP在增长。问题在于，这些数字继续提醒我们，经济的增速低于我们的期望。”

Disappointing U.S. sales figures released this month by Wal-Mart, the nation's top retailer, show the economy still has a way way to go, even in states like California.

美国零售业巨头沃尔玛这个月令人失望的销售数字显示，尽管加利福尼亚等州在增长，但经济复苏还有很长的路要走。